West Coast Loop Feb 2013

Images from a six-day trip from Hobart around to Tasmania's northwest coast. Includes a stop at Baker's Beach in Narawntapu National Park east of Devonport on the way home.

We left home early one afternoon, driving to Bradys Lake, where we had an evening stroll along the rocky shore. Pleasant free camping here: cross the canal flowing into the lake and then look for a turn on the right.
The next day we had a stop at Lake St Clair for a walk up to Shadow Lake. This is a lovely walk, especially in December when the route is flush with Tasmanian Waratah in bloom. Back in the car and on to Lake Burbury for the night where very pleasant free camping is to be had on the western shore.
In the morning we headed off towards Corinna on a somewhat convoluted route as we wanted to hike to Montezuma Falls near Roseberry. The walk was well worth the detour. It takes a disused tramway that ferried ore, wood and passengers between Roseberry and Zeehan back in the day. We had lunch at Roseberry and then on to historic Corinna via the Reece Dam.
Corinna is an iconic west coast experience, with the cruise out to the Pieman Heads a must-do. We cast off on the Arcadia II, built of Huon Pine in 1939, at 10:00 for our cruise through beautiful temperate rainforest, an hour exploring the mouth of the river and then back again. After our cruise we headed off to Couta Rocks for the night. This little fishing outpost is one of a number strung along the northwest coast. More free camping.
After a leisurely breakfast and a walk we headed off north to Arthur River, Montagu (Google Maps wouldn't let me accurately draw this part of the journey), Smithton and then a lunch stop at Stanley. We finally ended the day's drive at Bakers Beach in Narawntapu National Park, where we had a sublime evening swim.
After 5 days of glorious weather, it was just starting to drizzle the next morning as we packed up and headed home.